He said meanwhile, crude oil prices for WTI and Brent rose 0.2% to US$71.45/barrel and 1.0% to US$79.22/barrel, respectively as the U.S. Energy Information Administration announced that the US surplus shrank by 1.4 million barrels despite the increase in production.

“The MYR strengthened against regional currencies like Singapore dollar by 0.2% to 2.9540, rupiah by 0.1% to 3,552.45 but weakened against baht by 0.7% to 8.0672, peso by 0.6% to 13.1837. The 5 year CDS rose 0.63% to 84.93,” he said.